Socialists 'uncomfortable' with MLP's links with Eurosceptics

The Party of European Socialists will shortly be contacting the Malta Labour Party to clarify its status, as it is uncomfortable with the MLP's connections with Eurosceptics.

Although the MLP is a member of the PES, it has only the lowest rank of status, that of observer, and has never sought closer links.

The PES appointed vice-president Jan Marinus Wiersma to head talks with MLP leader Alfred Sant.

When contacted, PES spokesman Tony Robinson said Mr Wiersma would be writing to Dr Sant next week and that the letter might be followed up with a visit.

The development came as the PES granted full membership to seven parties from countries that will join the EU next year. The parties are from Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia.

The situation came to a head earlier this week as the MLP's observer Euro MPs, George Vella and John Attard Montalto, were to sit with the PES Group in the European parliament which met in Strasbourg.

"But there have been links between MLP figures and leading Eurosceptics," Mr Wiersma explained in a statement.

"This situation needs to be clarified so we will be making contact with the MLP next week to arrange talks."

Mr Robinson said that some of the MLP figures had links with, for example, the UK Independence Party, which contests elections against the British Labour Party.

"We are not saying that the MLP would not be accepted if they applied to upgrade their status, but we certainly need to find out what they intend to do," Mr Robinson said.